Method and system to determine electrical faults

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems provide an indication that a loose connection and/or fault occurred in a breaker box or other electrical connecting device. The method includes calculating normal resistance for circuits within a breaker box when a current drawing load is present, and monitoring increases in voltage drop of the circuits to detect whether the increase is due to increased current flow or a faulty connection.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to determining electrical faultswithin multi-circuit and multi-phase environments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Industrial power circuits typically include use of circuit panels,junction boxes, and bus bars through which electricity flows, frequently24 hours per day. These circuits, including their components, generallyrequire preventive maintenance to prevent a fault which may bring downthe circuit and/or may cause damage to connected equipment. Thepreventive maintenance may also serve to prevent electrical fires.

Providing continuous preventive maintenance may be very costly and mayinvolve the use of vast resources. As a result, existing measuresgenerally involve, every few years, going through all the circuit panelsand other circuit components and checking for loose connections. Thismay involve physically checking all the connection screws and tighteningthem if they are loose, and/or performing thermographic checks to detecthot spots which may be caused by, among others, loose connections.

A problem with the physically inspection and screw tightening is that itis very difficult to corroborate that all the circuit panels and othercomponents have been inspected and that all screws are secured. Aproblem with thermographic inspection is that the accuracy of theinspection is dependent on the skill of the person performing theinspection, and the circuit must be connected to a full load in order toallow for the detection of hot spots. Another problem is that thephysical inspection and the thermographic inspection are only carriedout periodically, sometimes over an extended period of time, and faultsmay result during the intermediate period of time. Furthermore, theinspections are carried out only on components such as the circuitpanels, the junction boxes, and the bus bars, and not on the wholecircuit.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a solution to theabovementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods and systems for automaticallydetecting and alerting when an increase in resistance occurs in acircuit within a breaker box. The present invention continuously samplesvoltage drop, and if a voltage drop increases above a threshold levelwithout a corresponding increase in current in the circuit, it isidentified as a possible loose wire and/or other fault, and an alarm issent.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method for detectingincreased resistance in a circuit, the method comprising: sampling avoltage drop between an input point and an output point within a breakerbox for at least one of circuit, detecting one the circuit with anincreased voltage drop from a threshold value, sampling an input currentat an input point of a breaker box, the input point connected to a samephase as the increased voltage drop; and when the input currentincreases above a threshold value and comprises a sufficiently similarphase angle and time synchronization as the increased voltage dropcalculating a loaded resistance of the detected circuit by dividing theincreased current by the detected voltage drop.

Optionally the method is such that the calculating of the loadedresistance further comprised calculating a plurality of values of loadedresistance, and a reference value of loaded resistance is calculated bya mathematical function performed on the plurality of loaded resistancevalues.

Optionally the method is such that the mathematical function is chosenfrom a group including mean, average, weighted average, weighted mean,median, and/or ignoring outliers.

Optionally the method is such that wherein the plurality of circuitsbelong to a single phase of a three phase signal.

Optionally the method is such that the detecting of one the circuit withan increased voltage drop corresponding to the increase in input currentfurther comprising correlating a timing and a phase angle between theincreased voltage drop and the increase input current.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a method, the methodcomprises sampling a voltage drop within a breaker box for at least oneof the plurality of circuits, detecting a circuit among the plurality ofcircuits with an increased voltage drop above a threshold value in aspecific electrical phase, sampling an input current to the breaker boxof the same phase as the increased voltage, and if no increased currentoccurred corresponding to the increased voltage drop in both timesynchronization and phase angle generating an alarm.

Optionally the method is such that further comprising generating analarm when a resistance for the circuit calculated by dividing thevoltage drop by the increased current is above a threshold level of aloaded resistance for the detected circuit.

Optionally the method is such that further comprising generating analarm when the correlated increased current is greater than a thresholdpercentage of a maximum value for current in a circuit breaker for thedetected circuit.

Optionally the method is such that further comprising calculating apower consumption of at least one circuit in the breaker box bycontinuously multiplying a detected voltage drop by correspondingincreased current, and when the power consumption is greater than athreshold value performing at least one action chosen from a list ofactions including generating an alarm, storing a time series of thepower consumption values, and reporting in real-time the powerconsumption values.

Optionally the method is such that further comprising generating a timeseries data base of values of the sampled current for at least one ofthe plurality of circuits.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to a system for detectingfaults in a breaker box comprising a processor comprising a CPU,communications interface, and a memory, a voltage sampling interfaceconnected to entry points and exit points of circuits within the breakerbox, a voltage comparator for calculating a voltage drop from the entrypoint and exit point voltages, a current sampling interface, and theprocessor programmed with executable instructions to receive time seriesof current data and corresponding voltage drop data for the at least onecircuit, and to calculate a loaded resistance of the at least onecircuit.

Optionally the system is such that further comprising generating analarm when a resistance for the circuit calculated by dividing thevoltage drop by the increased current is above a threshold level of aloaded resistance for the detected circuit.

Optionally the system is such that further comprising generating analarm when the corresponding increased current is greater than athreshold percentage of a maximum value for current in a circuit breakerfor the detected circuit.

Optionally the system is such that further comprising calculating apower consumption of at least one circuit in the breaker box bycontinuously multiplying a detected voltage drop by correspondingincreased current, and performing at least one action chosen from a listof actions including generating an alarm when the power consumption isgreater than a threshold value, storing a time series of the powerconsumption values, and reporting in real-time the power consumptionvalues.

Optionally the system is such that further comprising generating a timeseries data base of values of the sampled current for at least one ofthe circuits.

Optionally the system is such that wherein the calculating of the loadedresistance further comprised calculating a plurality of values of loadedresistance, and a final value of loaded resistance is calculated by amathematical function performed on the plurality of values.

Optionally the system is such that wherein the mathematical function ischosen from a group including mean, average, weighted average, weightedmean, median, and/or ignoring outliers.

Optionally the system is such that wherein the at least one circuitsbelong to a single phase of a three phase signal.

Optionally the system is such that the detecting of one the circuit withan increased voltage drop corresponding to the increase in input currentfurther comprising correlating a timing and a phase angle between theincreased voltage drop and the increase input current.

This document references terms that are used consistently orinterchangeably herein. These terms, including variations thereof, areas follows:

A “computer” and/or “processor” includes machines, computers andcomputing or computer systems (for example, physically separatelocations or devices), servers, computer and computerized devices,processors, processing systems, computing cores (for example, shareddevices), and similar systems, workstations, modules and combinations ofthe aforementioned. The aforementioned “computer” may be in varioustypes, such as a personal computer (e.g., laptop, desktop, tabletcomputer), or any type of computing device, including mobile devicesthat can be readily transported from one location to another location(e.g., smart phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), mobile telephoneor cellular telephone).

A “server” is typically a remote computer or remote computer system, orcomputer program therein, in accordance with the “computer” definedabove, that is accessible over a communications medium, such as acommunications network or other computer network, including theInternet. A “server” provides services to, or performs functions for,other computer programs (and their users), in the same or othercomputers. A server may also include a virtual machine, a software basedemulation of a computer.

Unless otherwise defined herein, all technical and/or scientific termsused herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains. Althoughmethods and materials similar or equivalent to those described hereinmay be used in the practice or testing of embodiments of the invention,exemplary methods and/or materials are described below. In case ofconflict, the patent specification, including definitions, will control.In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative onlyand are not intended to be necessarily limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some embodiments of the present invention are herein described, by wayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Withspecific reference to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that theparticulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrativediscussion of embodiments of the invention. In this regard, thedescription taken with the drawings makes apparent to those skilled inthe art how embodiments of the invention may be practiced.

Attention is now directed to the drawings, where like reference numeralsor characters indicate corresponding or like components. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a GESHP, according to some embodiments ofthe current invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a GESHP connected to a breakerbox, according to some embodiments of the current invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram detailing processes of a GESHP according tosome embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement of thecomponents and/or methods set forth in the following description and/orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of otherembodiments or of being practiced or carried out in various ways.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentinvention may be embodied as a system, method or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the formof an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or anembodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may allgenerally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “phase”, “module” or“system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or morenon-transitory computer readable (storage) medium(s) having computerreadable program code embodied thereon.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hot point system (GESHP) 100, which maybe used to detect loose connections and other faults in electric powercircuits, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The GESHP100 includes a power supply 101, a voltage comparator 102, a voltagesampling interface 103, a current sampling interface 104, and aprocessor 105. Optionally, the GESHP 100 includes at least one voltageand/or at least one current sensor.

In some embodiments, a GESHP 100 may be connected to a breaker box andcollect data from the breaker box, for example values of current,relative voltage levels, and/or electric wave phase angles. The term“breaker box” used herein refers to any electrical connection devicethat receives voltage and/or current from an external source, forexample power lines of an electric supply company, and supplies thevoltage and/or current to a local consumer. For example a breaker boxmay be an installation at an industrial site with numerous electricmotors and other electric devices that are connected to output points ofthe breaker box. Optionally a breaker box may receive and distributethree phase electricity.

In some embodiments, input voltage supplied to GESHP 100, for example220-240 volt AC, may be rectified and/or converted by power supply 101to a suitable voltage for operation of all components described herein.

In some embodiments voltage sampling interface 103 may comprise sensorsand/or connections to sensors for sampling voltage levels of a pluralityof voltage lines and may transmit the voltage values to voltagecomparator 102, as described in FIG. 2 .

Optionally, the voltage value may be relative to a reference point.Optionally the voltage values may include meta-data identifying thespecific source of the samples, a time stamp of each sample, phase,phase angle, and/or other data.

In some embodiments current sampling interface 104 may comprise sensorsand/or connections to sensors for sampling current levels of input linesand may transmit the values of current to processor 105, as described inFIG. 2 .

Optionally, the current value may include phase identification, phaseangle, source of the samples, a time stamp of each sample, phase, phaseangle, and/or other data.

Optionally, the current sensors comprise ring current sensors.Optionally, separate sensors may be dedicated to collecting data fromeach of three phases entering a breaker box.

In some embodiments voltage comparator 102 may comprise a mechanism forreceiving multiple voltage signals and computing a voltage delta betweentwo signal sources. Optionally the voltage signals may be voltages,digital encoded signals, and/or any type of signal representing avoltage level. For example, voltage comparator 102 may calculate a deltavoltage between an entry point and exit point of circuits within abreaker box, as described in FIG. 2 .

Optionally voltage comparator 102 may comprise communication devices fortransmitting data to processor 105. Optionally, the data may comprisethe calculated delta voltages, time stamps, voltage source identity,phase, phase angles, and/or any other data. Optionally the interfacebetween voltage comparator 102 and processor 105 may be digital, analog,and/or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments processor 105 may comprise a computing platform,including communication interface 106, memory 122, a CPU 120, and/orother computing facilities as described in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a GESHP connected to a breakerbox, according to some embodiments of the current invention.

In some embodiments breaker box 200 may comprise input lines 201, 202,and 203, connected optionally via circuit breakers 22 to breaker bars201 b, 202 b, and 203 b respectively. Circuits 203, 204, and 205 mayeach connect to each of breaker bars 201 b, 202 b, and 203 b. In someembodiments some or all circuits may be three phase or single phase.Optionally circuit breaker 23 may be connected between breaker bars 201b, 202 b, and 203 b, and circuits 203, 204, and 205. Optionally breakerbox 200 may comprise 3-5, 5-10, 10-20, 20-40, 40-100 or any other numberof circuits.

In some embodiments current sensors 201 a, 202 a, and 203 a may beattached to input points either within or outside of breaker box 200.Current sensors 201 a, 202 a, and 203 a may be part of and/or attachedto current sampling interface 104 of GESHP 100, and may sample currentof electric supply wires, for example in a three phase system, inputlines 201, 202, and 203. Those familiar with the art, may refer to thethree phase wires as “R”, “S”, and “T”.

Sampling

As used herein, the term “sampling” refers to a device generating a dataparameter representative of a measured phenomenon, for example voltage,phase angle, and/or current. The data parameter may be generated atregular time intervals, for example once per Pico second, micro second,fraction of a second, 1-10 seconds, 10-20 seconds, 20-30 seconds, 30-60seconds, 1-5 minutes, 5-30 minutes, 30-60 minutes, 1-2 hours, 2-24hours, 1-2 days, and/or any other time interval and/or range.

In some embodiments voltage sampling interface 103 may comprise or beconnected to input voltage sensors 207. Input voltage sensors 207 maycomprise separate sensors for each input lines 201, 202, and 203.

In some embodiments, voltage sampling interface 103 may comprise or beconnected to voltage sensors 206, wherein voltage sensor 206 maycomprise a separate voltage sensor for each of a plurality of circuitsat an output point of breaker box 200.

Processor 105

The GESHP 100 may comprise processor 105 comprising a central processingunit (CPU) 120 linked to memory 122. The CPU 120 is in turn, linked tocomponents such as voltage comparator 102, and current samplinginterface 104. While these components are the most germane to processor105, other components are permissible.

The CPU 102 is formed of one or more processors, including hardwareprocessors, and performs the processes (methods) of the invention, forexample, the process of FIG. 3 , which is detailed below. For example,CPU 120 may include x86 Processors from AMD (Advanced Micro Devices)and/or any other CPU.

Memory 122 may store machine-executable instructions executed by the CPU120 for performing the processes of the invention. Memory 122, forexample, may also provide temporary storage for intermediatecomputations.

Communications Interface 106

Communications interface 106 may facilitate communication links,including communication between components of GESHP, and communicationsbetween GESHP and other communicating platforms. Communicationsinterface may comprise cellular, wired and/or wireless links, forexample Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and may support communicationsprotocols, for example TCP/IP.

For example, communications interface 106 may sends alarms and/or alertsgenerated by the processes of GESHP to designated destinations to informof possible increased resistance of one or more circuits within breakerbox 200.

Communications interface 106 may also receive communications, such aswhen processor 105 is being programmed. For example, communicationsinterface 106 may allow a user of a computing platform to inputconfiguration data. Configuration data may also be loaded into memory122 along with program instructions.

Configuration Data

Configuration data may include for example associating current sensors201 a with input line 201, current sensor 202 a with input line 202, andinput sensor 203 a with input line 203, and/or associating each ofbreaker bars 201 a, 201 b, and 201 c with one of input lines 201, 202,and 203, and associating individual output voltage sensors 206 withcircuits 203, 204, or 205. Configuration data may further comprise amaximum and/or threshold current value of circuit breakers 22 and/or 26,a threshold for generating alarms, and the like. The association of thevarious components may enable processor 105 to identify specificcircuits with loose or problematic connections.

Definition of Terms

Any reference to calculations, detections, recordings, sampling,actions, methods, and/or process performed by processor MESHP 100,processor 105, and or CPU 126 refer to instructions stored in memory 122executing on CPU.

“Linked” as used herein, includes both wired and/or wireless links,either direct or indirect. As used herein, a “module”, for example,includes a component for storing instructions (e.g., machine readableinstructions), for example memory 122, and for performing one or moreprocesses, and including or associated with processors, e.g., the CPU120, for executing the instructions.

The term “corresponding” and/or “correlating”, when applied to voltageand/or current parameters refers to a change occurring in bothparameters within a window of time from each other, for example within1-1000 Pico seconds, 1-1000 micro seconds, a fraction of a second, 1-2seconds, and/or between 1,2, 3, or more sampled values. Correspondingparameter values may also that display about the same phase shift, theterm “about” referring to within a range of plus or minus 0.1-1%, 1-2%,2-4%, 4-6%, 6-8%, 8-10%, or any fraction of the stated ranges.

The term “associate” may be applied to components of breaker box 200,and may indicate a connection to a common circuit and/or phase.

The terms “steady state” and “threshold” when applied to parameters ofvoltage and/or current refers to a value calculated by processor 105wherein a time series of values for a parameter are stored and a steadystate or threshold value is calculated based on a mathematicaloperation, for example an average, mean, or other mathematicaloperations or combinations thereof, on a series of values, for examplewhen it is known that no load is applied to a circuit, for exampleduring a time period when load drawing equipment is not in use, e.g.during the night, or for example choosing a series of values that arewithin a range of each other and of lower value than other series.

The term “threshold” may refer to a value that is calculated byprocessor 105, a default value stored in memory 122, a percentage or amultiple of a value for example loaded resistance, and/or a parameterinput by a user.

The term “loaded resistance” refers to the calculated resistance betweenan input point of a circuit and an output point of the same circuit whena load that draws current, for example an electric motor or any otherelectric device, is applied to the output point of the circuit.

The term “fault threshold” refers to a resistance parameter for eachcircuit that may be calculated by processor 105, input by a user, and/oran initial default parameter loaded into memory 122. For example, thefault threshold may be a percentage of the maximum current rating of acircuit breaker in the circuit, a percentage of the loaded resistance,and/or any other calculated or determined value. The term may also referto a level of power, calculated using Ohm's law, by multiplying voltagedrop by current.

Calculating Loaded Resistance

By way of example, loaded resistance of circuit 203 is calculated. Thesame process may be applicable to any other circuit within breaker box200.

For example, to calculate the loaded resistance of circuit 203, anincrease in voltage drop is detected by voltage comparator 102 based oninput from voltage sampling interface 103 receiving input from voltagesensors 206 and 207. Voltage drop is a value calculated by processor 105and/or by voltage comparator 102 by calculating for circuit 203 thedifference between voltage parameters recorded by input voltage sensors207 and the associated output voltage sensors 206. For example, theincreased voltage drop may be detected in input line 201.

Processor 105 then searches values of sampled current from currentsensor with the same phase as the increased voltage drop, for example inour case current sensor 201 a, and detects whether a correspondingincrease in current with the same phase angle and time synchronizationas the increased voltage drop occurred.

When a corresponding voltage drop and current increase is detected, theloaded resistance is calculated by dividing the increased current by thevoltage drop, according to Ohm's law. The calculation may be performedmultiple times, and a mathematical operation may be performed on theseries of values of loaded resistance to calculate referenced value ofloaded resistance, which may be stored for use in detecting increasedresistance due to loose connection and/or other faults.

The loaded resistance of each circuit may be calculated automatically byprocessor 105, for example numerous times, for example at initialstart-up of GESHP 100, and may be automatically recalculated if and/orwhen a change in value is detected. In some embodiments, an initialand/or default value of loaded resistance for some or all circuits maybe input to the GESHP.

Identifying Increased Circuit Resistance

GESHP 100 may detect within a circuit increased resistance and/orincreased power consumption, which may be an indication of a loose orotherwise malfunctioning connection, fuse, breaker, component, and/orsection of the circuit.

The process of identifying increased resistance within a circuit maybegin after the process of calculating referenced loaded resistance andcontinue with the steps listed below. Optionally, identifying increasedresistance within a circuit may comprise similar and/or identical stepsin the process of calculating loaded resistance, with the followingadded steps.

The voltage drop is calculated for each circuit continuously, forexample with each set of corresponding voltage measurement, or onceevery period of time, for example every second, every minute, everyhour, every day, and/or any other time interval. If an increased voltagedrop is detected where no corresponding current increase is detected, orif calculation of load resistance rises above a threshold, actions maybe taken to alert that a fault may be present in the circuit.

The actions may include transmitting an alert to user computingdevice(s), sounding an audible alarm at or near breaker box 200 or anyother location, recording relevant parameters in a log file, and/or anyother action.

The detection of increased circuit resistance may further comprise realtime and/or continuous reporting of power consumption of at least onecircuit in breaker box 200. For example, once the reference loadedresistance is known, power can be calculated by the formula:

P=U∧2*RL

Where:

P=power

U=increased current

RL=referenced loaded resistance

Optionally, the power consumption of a circuit may also be calculated bythe formula:

P=U*V

Where:

V=voltage drop.

U=increased current

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram detailing processes in accordance withembodiments of the invention.

In some embodiments, the process begins at a block 301, where inputcurrent is sampled by current sampling interface 104, and an increase inthe input current above a threshold is detected and recorded byprocessor 105

The process continues with block 302, where voltage drop of the samephase for a plurality of circuits is recorded and examined by processor105, and a voltage drop corresponding to the increased current isdetected.

The process continues with block 303, where a loaded resistance iscalculated by processor 105 by dividing the increase in current by thecorresponding voltage drop.

Optionally, blocks 301-303 may be repeated at least twice for the samecircuit, and a referenced loaded resistance value is calculated byprocessor 105 in block 304 by performing a mathematical operation of theseries of loaded resistance values.

Optionally the mathematical function may be any linear or non-linearfunction or algorithm, for example classifier, regression, machinelearning, artificial intelligence, average, mean weighted average,weighted mean, median, ignoring outliers.

In some embodiments, the process further comprises the blocks 305 and306.

In block 305, a new value of loaded resistance is calculated andcompared to a threshold value. The threshold value may be a fractionand/or a multiple of the referenced loaded resistance value, a userinput parameter, a default value stored in memory 122, and/or acombination thereof. If the new value exceeds the threshold value,continue to block 306, otherwise return to block 305. The loop ofrepeating block 305 may be exited when processor 105 detects a change ininput current and/or voltage drop and calculates returns to block 300 tocalculate a new loaded resistance value.

In block 306 an alarm and/or alert is generated by processor 105 andtransmitted by communications interface 106 as described above.

HARDWARE EMBODIMENTS

For example, hardware for performing selected tasks according toembodiments of the invention could be implemented as a chip or acircuit, or a virtual machine or virtual hardware. As software, selectedtasks according to embodiments of the invention could be implemented asa plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer usingany suitable operating system. In an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, one or more tasks according to exemplary embodiments ofmethod and/or system as described herein are performed by a dataprocessor, such as a computing platform for executing a plurality ofinstructions. Optionally, the data processor includes a volatile memoryfor storing instructions and/or data and/or a non-volatile storage, forexample, non-transitory storage media such as a magnetic hard-diskand/or removable media, for storing instructions and/or data.Optionally, a network connection is provided as well. A display and/or auser input device such as a keyboard or mouse are optionally provided aswell.

For example, any combination of one or more non-transitory computerreadable (storage) medium(s) may be utilized in accordance with theabove-listed embodiments of the present invention. A non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable storage medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, acomputer readable non-transitory storage medium may be any tangiblemedium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connectionwith an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

As will be understood with reference to the paragraphs and thereferenced drawings, provided above, various embodiments ofcomputer-implemented methods are provided herein, some of which can beperformed by various embodiments of apparatuses and systems describedherein and some of which can be performed according to instructionsstored in non-transitory computer-readable storage media describedherein. Still, some embodiments of computer-implemented methods providedherein can be performed by other apparatuses or systems and can beperformed according to instructions stored in computer-readable storagemedia other than that described herein, as will become apparent to thosehaving skill in the art with reference to the embodiments describedherein. Any reference to systems and computer-readable storage mediawith respect to the following computer-implemented methods is providedfor explanatory purposes, and is not intended to limit any of suchsystems and any of such non-transitory computer-readable storage mediawith regard to embodiments of computer-implemented methods describedabove. Likewise, any reference to the following computer-implementedmethods with respect to systems and computer-readable storage media isprovided for explanatory purposes, and is not intended to limit any ofsuch computer-implemented methods disclosed herein.

Explanations of Figures

The flowcharts and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Clarifications

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the embodiments, the practical application or technicalimprovement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

As used herein, the singular form “a”, “an” and “the” include pluralreferences unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example,instance or illustration”. Any embodiment described as “exemplary” isnot necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over otherembodiments and/or to exclude the incorporation of features from otherembodiments.

It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, forclarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also beprovided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures of the invention, which are, for brevity, described in thecontext of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or inany suitable sub combination or as suitable in any other describedembodiment of the invention. Certain features described in the contextof various embodiments are not to be considered essential features ofthose embodiments, unless the embodiment is inoperative without thoseelements.

The above-described processes including portions thereof can beperformed by software, hardware and combinations thereof. Theseprocesses and portions thereof can be performed by computers,computer-type devices, workstations, processors, micro-processors, otherelectronic searching tools and memory and other non-transitorystorage-type devices associated therewith. The processes and portionsthereof can also be embodied in programmable non-transitory storagemedia, for example, compact discs (CDs) or other discs includingmagnetic, optical, etc., readable by a machine or the like, or othercomputer usable storage media, including magnetic, optical, orsemiconductor storage, or other source of electronic signals.

The processes (methods) and systems, including components thereof,herein have been described with exemplary reference to specific hardwareand software. The processes (methods) have been described as exemplary,whereby specific steps and their order can be omitted and/or changed bypersons of ordinary skill in the art to reduce these embodiments topractice without undue experimentation. The processes (methods) andsystems have been described in a manner sufficient to enable persons ofordinary skill in the art to readily adapt other hardware and softwareas may be needed to reduce any of the embodiments to practice withoutundue experimentation and using conventional techniques.

Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specificembodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modificationsand variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: sampling a voltage dropbetween an input point and an output point within a breaker box for atleast one of circuit; detecting one said circuit with an increasedvoltage drop from a threshold value; sampling an input current at aninput point of a breaker box, said input point connected to a same phaseas said increased voltage drop; and when said input current increasesabove a threshold value and comprises a sufficiently similar phase angleand time synchronization as said increased voltage drop: calculating aloaded resistance of said detected circuit by dividing said detectedvoltage by said increased voltage current.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein said calculating of said loaded resistance further comprisedcalculating a plurality of values of loaded resistance, and a referencevalue of loaded resistance is calculated by a mathematical functionperformed on said plurality of loaded resistance values.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein said mathematical function is chosen from a groupincluding mean, average, weighted average, weighted mean, median, and/orignoring outliers.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality ofcircuits belong to a single phase of a three phase signal.
 5. The methodof claim 1, said detecting of one said circuit with an increased voltagedrop corresponding to said increase in input current further comprisingcorrelating a timing and a phase angle between said increased voltagedrop and said increase input current.
 6. A method comprising: sampling avoltage drop within a breaker box for at least one circuit; detecting acircuit among said at least one circuits with an increased voltage dropbetween an input point and an output point of said breaker box, saidvoltage drop above a threshold value in a specific electrical phase;sampling an input current to said breaker box of said same phase as saidincreased voltage drop; and if no increased current occurredcorresponding in both time synchronization and phase angle to saidincreased voltage drop: generating an alarm.
 7. The method of claim 6,further comprising generating an alarm when a resistance for saidcircuit calculated by dividing said voltage drop by said increasedcurrent is above a threshold level of a loaded resistance for saiddetected circuit.
 8. The method of claim 6, further comprisinggenerating an alarm when said correlated increased current is greaterthan a threshold percentage of a maximum value for current in a circuitbreaker for said detected circuit.
 9. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising calculating a power consumption of at least one circuit insaid breaker box by continuously multiplying a detected voltage drop bycorresponding increased current, and when said power consumption isgreater than a threshold value performing at least one action chosenfrom a list of actions including generating an alarm, storing a timeseries of said power consumption values, and reporting in real-time saidpower consumption values.
 10. The method of claim 6, further comprisinggenerating a time series data base of values of said sampled current forat least one of said plurality of circuits.
 11. A system detectingfaults in a breaker box comprising: a processor comprising a CPU,communications interface, and a memory; a voltage sampling interfaceconnected to entry points and exit points of circuits within saidbreaker box; a voltage comparator for calculating a voltage drop fromsaid entry point and exit point voltages; a current sampling interface;and said processor programmed with executable instructions to receivetime series of current data and corresponding voltage drop data for saidat least one circuit, and to calculate a loaded resistance of said atleast one circuit;
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprisinggenerating an alarm when a resistance for said circuit calculated bydividing said voltage drop by said increased current is above athreshold level of a loaded resistance for said detected circuit. 13.The system of claim 11, further comprising generating an alarm when saidcorresponding increased current is greater than a threshold percentageof a maximum value for current in a circuit breaker for said detectedcircuit.
 14. The system of claim 6, further comprising calculating apower consumption of at least one circuit in said breaker box bycontinuously multiplying a detected voltage drop by correspondingincreased current, and performing at least one action chosen from a listof actions including generating an alarm when said power consumption isgreater than a threshold value, storing a time series of said powerconsumption values, and reporting in real-time said power consumptionvalues.
 15. The system of claim 6, further comprising generating a timeseries data base of values of said sampled current for at least one ofsaid circuits.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein said calculating ofsaid loaded resistance further comprised calculating a plurality ofvalues of loaded resistance, and a final value of loaded resistance iscalculated by a mathematical function performed on said plurality ofvalues.
 17. The system of claim 11, wherein said mathematical functionis chosen from a group including mean, average, weighted average,weighted mean, median, and/or ignoring outliers.
 18. The system of claim11, wherein said at least one circuits belong to a single phase of athree phase signal.
 19. The system of claim 11, said detecting of onesaid circuit with an increased voltage drop corresponding to saidincrease in input current further comprising correlating a timing and aphase angle between said increased voltage drop and said increase inputcurrent.